According to reports, Lakers player Knecht s struggles in the preseason have been regarded as a "negative asset"

According to American sports media F/W analyst Nico Martinez. Knecht's potential has taken a hit. Rival scouts around the league have begun labeling the Lakers guard a "negative asset" after a poor performance in his preseason debut, according to Dan Walker of the Los Angeles Times , suggesting Los Angeles may have to attach another asset to move him in any potential trade. "The Lakers did not move Knecht this summer, and anything the team might get for Knecht is not worth giving up the potential that still exists," Voick wrote. "But after shooting 1-for-12 in his preseason debut, scouts came away as pessimistic as ever, with one even calling Knecht a 'negative asset,' meaning the Lakers needed additional pieces to incentivize the team to make a trade."

The Lakers opened the preseason against the Suns, ultimately ending in a 21-point defeat. Knecht struggled in the game, shooting just 6 points on 2-10 shooting. Knecht scored 11 points on 12-3 shooting against the Warriors on Sunday as the Lakers lost by eight. For a player who showed so much promise last season, these early struggles don't bode well for Dalton, suggesting he could be an early candidate to be traded before the February deadline.

Since it's still early, Knecht still has plenty of time to find his niche with the Lakers, but it's hard to deny that after last season's botched trade agreement. Shortly after acquiring Luka Doncic, the Lakers began adding a nice young center, and they even struck a deal for Hornets big man Mark Williams. Knecht was supposed to head to Charlotte as part of that deal, but the Lakers canceled the deal at the last minute, leading to an awkward reunion. For him, returning to the team that just traded him was like a sudden whiplash, but he had no choice but to push forward and do the best he could.

Despite his best efforts, things never returned to normal and he felt like an outsider on his team. His play declined, his role declined, and it wasn't until the preseason that he began to lose importance. Now, Redick hopes his new experience will help him reach the next level, but it's clear he still has a long way to go. The bad news for the Lakers is that even if they want to trade Knecht, his price has never been low, and they won't get any favorable offers. The fact that they have to attach a draft pick to get him off the books means he's essentially untradeable right now.

With the new season still a few weeks away, the Lakers can use this time to prepare their young players and ensure they are properly prepared for the next step in their development. For him, that means giving him time to shine and either building his future in Los Angeles or sending his contract elsewhere.

It's too early to give up on Knecht completely, but so far the signs aren't promising. If he wants to change that narrative, he'll need to prove he belongs in the Lakers' rotation and show the same confidence that made him a breakout prospect in college. His talent is not an issue, but his consistency is, which will determine whether he becomes part of the Lakers' future or a name that's often on the trade block.